Mumbai restaurant menus featuring quirky dishes with a dash of Old Monk

The Old Monkey Cake Rs 270Old Monkey cake at Monkey Bar BandraIts not hard to guess why Bandras popular outpost draws inspiration from this brand of rum given that its name has resonance with the liquor The Old Monkey cake says the restaurants pastry chef Kalyan Rao uses the dark honeycoloured rum as the main ingredient Its dark chocolate cake soaked in Old Monkflavoured syrup layered with Old Monk chocolate ganache and crushed almond praline says Rao The chef says that the pairing of dark rum with chocolate is a triedandtested one such as with rum balls and one that is likely to stand the test of timeWe chose Old Monk over other rums primarily for its unique flavour which is predominantly vanilla but also has dark molasses that gives it a slight bitterness he says This distinct flavour is sought out by guests regularly Moreover it is widely available and is cost effective he notesGrilled prawns PicSameer Markande Rs 675Char grilled prawns at Rodeo Andheri EastMarinated for two hours in onion garlic celery Dijon mustard and Old Monk the prawns at Rodeo Drive acquire a distinct taste Old Monk acts as a preservative and its acidic flavour adds to the prawns says chef Ruffy Shaikh The choice of Old Monk for marination has something to do with it being Indias staple tipple Its the only flavour that truly represents India and among the best of the fleet Even expats who come back to India seek it out says Shaikh He adds that mustard and dark rum make a good pairing like ebony and ivory bringing out some worthwhile smoky flavours Old Monk is picante and is a great combination with mustard he explainsRuffy ShaikhIf we are concerned that prawns and other seafood will be overpowered by the strong notes of Old Monk the chef assures us that isnt the case When you marinate the prawns and grill them the alcohol evaporates It is more problematic only when you pour the rum directly over for a flambeRoasted Lamb Boti Rs 495Old Monk soaked roasted lamb boti at Tappa Kamala MillsAt Lower Parels newly launched Tappa the Old Monk soaked roasted lamb boti was born out of the need to pay homage to the indigenous rum Due to a long legacy Old Monk has an unquestionable supremacy over the Indian palate Moreover it is widely accepted across all ages says Chef Gurpreet Singh What sets it apart from its competitors is the fact that it doesnt overpower other ingredients Old Monk is blended rum matured for several years and you can tell it apart from other dark rums he says Most other spiced rums he feels are difficult to cook with because they have an inherently strong flavour Here Old Monk matures the meat reduces the cooking time without killing the texture hence acts as a substitute for dairybased marinadesOld Monk BBQ sauceRs 300 for 250mlMadhumeeta Pynes Old Monk BBQ sauceA home chef who goes by the brand name Insomniac Cook Madhumeeta Pyne has created a niche for herself with her artisanal jams sauces and dips at her popup stalls Pyne a Malad resident is also an Old Monk loyalist and says that her goto drink has been Old Monk with soda for nearly two decades now It is but natural therefore that this rum finds its way into her recipes such as a hit BBQ sauce that she preparesI have never been a fan of BBQ sauces that render the meat sweet When you make BBQ sauce with Old Monk the alcohol doesnt remain and only the flavours do says Pyne She makes the sauce with pepper and mustard creating a sauce that isnt is more hot than sweet The sauce is lathered on pork ribs chicken wings and meatballs and has a smooth finish she explains Her Old Monk BBQ sauce is also sold separatelyThe popular rum also makes a cameo appearance in her bacon ice cream which uses salted caramel as its base I add about two caps of Old Monk to one litre of this ice cream in order to stop it from crystallising The rum was just supposed to be functional but it also lends its flavour wonderfully says PyneTava kheema Rs 300Old Monk tava kheema at Bombay Bronx Breach CandyAt Breach Candys The Bombay Bronx the good ol chicken kheema has been stripped off its sobriety Along with mutton mince green peas onions tomatoes cloves and cinnamon you are greeted by the inviting aroma of rum Tava kheema is your quick fix food Its spicy and tasty Old Monk makes the dish a little more juicier and adds the vanilla pinch to the dish says chef Subroto Haldar Being an avid Old Monk drinker and a chicken kheema fan Haldar wanted to create a dish by marrying the two It was an experiment that paid off But I couldnt nail it in the first go It took me a lot of trials I even organised tastings with rum lovers he recalls It was after their approval that the dish was added to the menu last month Here its served with pav fries and saladRum chica cum Rs 475Rum chica cum at Raasta KharBeing a Caribbeanthemed restobar it was important for Prashant Singh executive chef at Raasta to give the distilled spirit its due So you wont just find it on the bar menu but also in the food The star dish however is the Old Monkinspired rum chica rum a chicken appetiser with flavours coming in from a blend of jerk spices thyme and a hint of citrus sauce Old Monk was by default our first choice as far as dark rum goes Apart from its massive fan base its a drink we were sure would suit the Indian palette he saysPrashant SinghAccording to Singh Old Monk works best when it comes to caramelising and elevates the flavour of the dish It also blends well with orange juice one of the most important ingredients of the marinade What wine does to a steak is exactly what rum does to chicken It liberates the flavours he explains All he has to do is add 60 ml of it while grilling the chicken Singh however cautions that its an acquired taste But those who like it are fiercely loyal to itCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news current affairs from Mumbai local news crime news and breaking headlines hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on 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